April 17, 2006
I woke early on our last day in Sapa, eager for a day of trekking and hopeful that maybe the sun would finally come out and I’d finally have a chance to see some of the most magnificent landscapes in Asia. If the morning drizzle and thick haze was any indication, the trek in terms of panoramic views, was entirely shot. Still, I was curious as to what village life in Vietnam consisted of and eager to explore deeper into the countryside, so I piled on warm clothes, sandals (easy for rinsing off the pounds of mud later on), and grabbed my camera bag. I made the treacherous walk down to the Royal Hotel, fearful I was going to make a wrong turn in the thick haze.
At the bottom of the main street running through Sapa town, I found hordes of other tourists preparing for treks. Eager for a slightly less packaged experience, I decided to go with a private female guide. After hearing about Chris and Margaret’s guide on their 3-day mountain trek, I thought I’d really enjoy hiking with and talking to another woman from the area. I got very lucky. I met Chu – a 16-year old Black H’mong girl, who became my companion and guide for 15 kilometers through the mountainside beyond Sapa town.
